Research Assistant at Monsanto Company

Job description

Location: Petit, South Africa

Major Responsibilities (essential job functions, scope of the job etc.):

This individual is included in all aspects of seed preparation, planting, pollinating, harvesting and inventory management.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Meeting of deadlines.

• Perform computer-related activities, including hand held data collection, data management, bar coding functions and providing support for all day-to-day activities.
• Coordinates and assists in all seed lab operations including seed shelling, packaging, treating and packet arrangement.
• Coordinates and assists with all field operations including planting yield trial plots, nurseries, pollination, data collection, and machine harvest of yield trial plots.
• Assist with timely and accurate data collection from research plots.
• Training, motivating and supervising seasonal labor.
• Assists in implementation of site safety programs to ensure a safe work environment.
• Actively participate in the evaluation and implementation of new technologies
• Communicates with farmers to coordinate off-station trials.
• Extensive road travel and time away from home during planting and harvesting period.
• Implement and maintain a culture of excellence in all working areas.

Qualifications, Experience and Competencies requirement:

• BS degree in agronomy, plant science, or related discipline or 3 years’ agricultural research experience with an Agricultural related diploma.
• Basic knowledge of crop production, farming practices and farm equipment operation.
• Knowledge of field research trial set-up
• Valid driver’s license and a willingness to travel extensively to the maize growing areas of South Africa and spend time away from home during peak seasons
• Computer skills in word processing and spreadsheet programs with the ability to learn new program
• Knowledge of farm and seed research equipment
• Ability to accurately take and record trial data
• Ability to implement and maintain high safety standards in all working areas
• Excellent organizational and record keeping skills.
• Effective verbal communication skills.
• Detail oriented with the ability to balance multiple tasks and achieve deadlines.
• Attention to detail and accurate worker
• Ability to do physical work for example: the loading and off-loading of Fertilizer and servicing or repair of farm equipment
• Ability to maintain a culture of excellence on and off field responsibilities
• Detailed orientated
• Communicate and negotiate with Farmers

Join our global team where your contribution will make a real difference

We are looking for enthusiastic and committed candidates. Placements will be made in line with Monsanto’s Employment Equity Policy.